Analysis of horsepower and consumption in a diesel engine using different blends of ethanol, diesel, and biodiesel [abstract]

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Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to determine the effects on horsepower and consumption of a diesel engine using different fuel blends. Specifically using ethanol and biodiesel blended at different percentages with petroleum based diesel. There were a total of seven different blends used in this experiment with the control fuel being 100% petroleum diesel. As an example, one of the blends used was a 2.5% biodiesel and 2.5% ethanol blended with 95% diesel. After all blends were formulated, the testing of horsepower and consumption began by using a 4320 John Deere Tractor. The fuel blends were set up through a manifold system that could be changed very easily between concentrations without contaminating one another. To measure horsepower we hooked the tractor to a dynamometer and recorded the differences between each fuel blend. To measure the fuel consumption of the tractor over a given time the jugs of fuel were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and at the end. The differences showed amount used over that time period which could then be used to calculate liters per hour.